Folding bed.



J. F. WILMOT.

FOLDING BED.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1900.

(No Model.)

Patented o t".- 22', I901.

2 sheets sheet No. 685,079. Patented Oct. 22, |90|.

J. r. WILMOT.

FOLDING BED.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1900.) v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR fi By Z W Attorneys.

T NORRIS PEYERS c0; ammo-mks wxsumarou. a, c.

ANITED STATE-S PATENT GFFICE.

JOHN F. WILMOT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 685,079, dated October 22, 1901. Application filed December 8, 1900. Serial No. 39,143. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WILMOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of W'ayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Beds; and I declare the fol lowing to beafull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of I this specification.

This invention relates to folding beds, and has for its object an improved bed and sofa in which the base serves asthe base of both the sofa and the bed and in which the sofa seat and its support are arranged to be drawn back and dropped and the sofa-back is arranged to be folded forward with its front surface down, and the mattress-supporting frame, which has previously been'laid in a vertical position behind the sofa back, is folded forward to a level position above those parts which constitute the sofa, utilizing the sofa-base as one support for the bed and furnishing another support for the bed by means of a folding leg.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the bed with the mattress-support (hereinafter called mattress-supporting frame) in the position it occupies for use as a bed. Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the parts folded to the position they take when the structure is used as a sofa. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the parts in the position they occupy when the structure is in use as a sofa. The folded position of the sofa seat and back is indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a perspective showing one end of the mattress-supporting frame and the head-rail folded over the mattress. Fig. 5 shows a corner of the mattress-supporting frame.

In Fig. 3 the sofa is shown as upholstered. In Fig. 2 the upholstering is not shown, because the action of the folding parts can be better understood from a drawing in which the upholstering is not indicated.

A indicates the base of the structure, which consists of the two end pieces a and the rails b b 19 The seat and back of the sofa are indicated at 2 and 3. The seat consists of the bottom 2 and a narrow back rail 2 secured to the head-rail 9 and foot-rail 9 cured thereto, are hinged by hinges 3 and 3 to the narrow back rail 2 The seat 2 also has a rail 2 under it, arranged to rest on the rail b, and it is somewhat shorter than the rail 1) and at each end on the base A there is a fillet 4 4:; To the base A are hinged the ends 5 and 5 of the sofa. Each of these has vertical ribs 5 5, arranged to form a rest for the back 3, and preferably the ribs 5" 5 slant backward from the bottom toward the top and are rabbeted to engage with a corresponding rabbet at each end of the back 3. Each vertical rib 5 5 is fitted with a hook 6, (shown in dotted lines in Fig.2,) arranged to engage in, on, or over a pin' that projects rearward from the back 3. To each end piece is hinged a wing 7 7 hinged to fold outward to bring Ithe outer face of the wing over against the outer face of the end board. The back and seat-piece, hinged together, as described, are engaged by an outrigger-hinge 3 3 with the base. '3 of the sofa is: folded forward the lower cor- .ner between the seat2 and the rail 2 travels With this construction when the back downward and backward, drawing the rail 2 off from the rail 1) and draws the seat 2 backward and drops the front part of the seat ofi the sofa. The back part of the seat drops still farther. The end boards 5 and 5 are now folded in over the top of the seat and the wings 7 and 7 are folded forward and the structure takes the position shown in Fig. 1, except that the mattress-supporting frame of the bed has not yet been folded forward.

The bed part of the sofa consists of a mattress-supporting frame 8, which is hinged to the base A by hinges 8 which have angled arms to enable the frame to be engaged to and be supported by the somewhat longer base A by a hinge that connects the mattresssupporting frame and the outer'surface of the base. The mattress-supporting frame is preferably a strong frame of iron rectangular in shape and it has piunedto its'sides near each end links 8*, which are also pinned The headrail (and the foot-rail) is made, preferably, of tubing, and the open end 9 of the tube IOO engages over pins 9 on the main framework,

and the pins coact with the links 8 to hold.

the head-rail in a vertical position, or the headrail may be swung on the link, which forms a double hinge, until it lies parallel to and close down against the main frame or until it lies close down against anyinterposed substance, such as the mattress or the mattress and pillows, and thus the head-rail (and the foot-rail) serve when in the position shown in Fig. 4. as a retaining device to hold the mattress and bedding to the frame when the frame is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3. Instead of the pins 9 engaging in the hollow ends of the head-rail the head-rail may be made solid and arranged to engage in holes 9 in the main frame, as shown in Fig. 5.

A spring 10 is stretched from near the corner of the mattress-supporting frame to the base A and is secured to any convenient part of the mattresssupporting frame, preferably to the cross-bar of angle-iron 10, (seen in Fig. 5,) which holds the webbing of the wire mattress. The spring 10 reaches to a part of the base A which is just below the normal position of the back corner of the seat 2, and this brings the spring into tension when the mattress-supporting frame is swung to the position shown in Fig. 3. It is also under tension when the mattress-supporting frame is in the position shown in Fig. 1, but swings through a condition of less tension between the two. The tension of the spring 10 when the mattress-supporting frame is in the position shown in Fig. 1 aids the operator in lifting the free edge of the bed and swinging the mattress-supporting frame and mattress to the position shown in Fig. 3, and as the spring comes into tension in the position shown in Fig. 3 it aids in preventing the frame or bed from injury from sudden strain.

In the position shown in 3 the mattresssupporting frame rests, preferably, on a bar 19 that is constructed as a part of the base A and extends from a wing 7 to a corresponding wing on the farther end of the base. When the mattress supporting frame is thrown forward to the position it is shown as occupying in Fig. 1, the legs 13 drop down to support the forward edge of it. When this structure is used as a bed, it is low enough to be convenient for that purpose. When it is used as a sofa, the seat is at the normal height, and the fact that it is a sofa convertible into a bed is almost unnoticeable, as the part which is back of the sofa'back and which is used as the storage for the bed and bedding occupies a space that is scarcely thicker than the thickness of the mattress, and if care be taken in the construction of the various parts the back is so entirely closed in that the double use of the structure is scarcely noticeable. On each of the folding end pieces is a rib 5* 5, that extends from the end toward the middle of the sofa and engages with the back 3 when the sofa is arranged in the position shown in Fig. 2 or in full lines in Fig. 3, and at each end of the bottom 2 is a fillet 4: or 4 which is a part of the frame that in the sofa when in the position of Fig. 2 is on a plane with the bottom, but which remains in position and does not drop with the bottom. The upholstering extends toward the ends of the sofa to the ends of the back 3 or to the ends of the bottom 2, but does not extend over either theribs or the fillets. The fillet and ribs allow upholstering on the end pieces 5 and 5, and after the cushions, which are formed by upholstering, are in place the back 3 can still fold down on the bottom 2 without being prevented by the additional thickness of the ends caused by the upholstering.

The front edge of the seat or sofa-bottom projects beyond the rail or rib on the under side thereof, which is arranged to rest on the supporting-rail, and this rail is of such a Vertical thickness that when the seat-bottom drops the upper surface of the seat is low enough to allow the infolding of the end pieces and of the forward folding wings, and the mattress-supporting frame folded thereover will have the proper and desired vertical distance from the floor.

The bed part of the structure is easily entirely removed from the sofa part, leaving a completed sofa, which, however, still retains those peculiar features which enable it to be used with the bed-bottom to constitute the compound structure, but which may be used for sofa purposes. Of course the detached mattress-supporting frame would not be in itself a complete bed, as it would lack the supports to hold it from the floor in the proper way. The hinged arms could be utilized as legs, but they would not correspond with the hinged legs normally used with it. In other respects the detached bed part would constitute a perfect bedstead.

Generally it is desirable to place casters under the rail which supports the verticallydisposed bed-bottom to correspond with the casters under the other parts of the sofa-base; but, if desired, this rail may be entirely dispensed with and casters placed on the mattress-supporting frame itself, although this is not so desirable a form of structure.

The rails 9 9 when in a horizontal position are held securely down on the bedding by a strap (not shown) which is buckled around the side bar of the mattress-s11pporting frame and the rails 9 9.

What I claim is-- 1. The combination of a sofa-base, a rigid hinge-arm secured thereto, and extending to the rear thereof, a sofa-back and a sofa-bot tom hinged together, a rigid hinge-arm secured to the sofa-back between its top and bottom, extending backward and engaging with the hinge-arm hereinbefore mentioned, whereby the sofa-back may be swung on its hinge connection, and on swinging the top thereof forward, the bottom thereof swings backward and is lowered, and the so fa-bottom engaged thereto is also drawn backward and lowered substantially as described.

2. The combination of a base,having a front rail, a sofa-seat of shorterlength than the base provided with a supporting-bar under its forward edge adapted to engage on said rail, a

back hinged to the seat, and also hinged by an outrigger-hinge to the base, the said outrigger-hinge being arranged to cause downward and backward movement of the lower part of the back and of the seat secured thereto, with a movement of the upper part of the back, that is first forward and downward and then backward, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a sofa-base, a sofaback and a sofa-bottom, and means whereby the top of the sofa-back may be swung forward and downward, a mattress-supporting frame, arms extending therefrom and hinged to the sofa-base, whereby the mattress-supporting frame may be swung, and supported in a vertical position behind the sofa-base, or in a horizontal position thereover, folding legs adapted to support the front of the mattress-frame, substantially as described.

4:. In combination with a sofa-frame provided with a drop-bottom ,a back hinged there to, a support for the forward edge of the sofa bottom, a support at the rear for the mattresssupporting frame, a mattress supporting frame, hinged arms secured to the mattress supporting frame and engaging the sofa-bottom and legs hinged to the mattress-supporting frame, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a sofa-base, a drop sofa-bottom thereto, a sofa-back hinged to said base, and adapted to fold thereover, sofa ends hinged to said base, and arranged to fold over the back when the same is folded down over the sofa-bottom, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a sofa having a drop-bottom, and a back hinged thereto, and adapted to fold forward thereover, a mattresssupporting frame, a rest for one edge of said frame, hinged arm connections engaging the base and the mattress-supporting frame and legs hinged to the mattress-supporting frame, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a sofa-base, a back, a hinge engagement between the back and the base, end pieces, hinge engagements between the end piece and the base, vertical ribs on the end pieces extending inward therefrom, and engaging the back at the ends thereof, whereby provision is made for upholstering the ends without obstructing the folding movement of the back, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a sofa-base, a mat tress-supporting frame hinged thereto, legs hinged to said frame, springs connecting the base and the mattress-supporting frame, the said springs being connected to the mattresssupporting frame at the edges thereof, and to the base below the normal position of the back corner of the sofa-seat, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a mattress-support ing frame, an end rail provided with standard portions and a cross-bar, a link secured to the said frame on the outside edge thereof and to the said end rail on the outside edge of the standard portion thereof,whe reby the rail may be held vertical with respect to the mattress supporting frame, or may be folded freely over included bedding to a position parallel to and at a variable distance from the mattress-supporting frame, substantially as described. 7

10, In combination with a mattress -supporting frame, an end rail provided with standard portions and a cross-bar, a link pivotally secured to the outside of said mattresssupporting frame, and also pivotally secured to the standard part of said end rail on the outside thereof, a pin projecting from one of said parts, and means for engaging said pin in the other of said parts, whereby the end rail may be held steadily in a position at right angles to said mattress-supporting frame, substantially as described.

11. In combination with a sofa-base provided with a rail at the rear adapted to form a rest for the edge of a mattress-supporting frame, a mattress-supporting frame, hinged arms connecting said frame to the sofa-base, and folding legs adapted to constitute supports for the front of the mattress-supporting frame when the same is in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

12. In combination with a sofa-frame, a mattress-supporting frame, legs hinged to one edge thereof, hinged arms engaging said mattress-supporting frame to the sofa-frame, sofa ends hinged to the sofa-base, and adapted to fold thereover, wing-pieces hinged to the sofa ends and adapted to fold out and forward and to fold down with the sofa ends, and also adapted to fold back from the sofa ends,when in a vertical position, to conceal the ends of the bed-bottom, substantially as described.

13. In combination with a sofa-base provided with a drop-bottom, a back hinged to said bottom, a hinge connection between the back and the base, a rail on the sofa-base so located as to engage and support the dropbottom, a mattress-supporting frame, legs hinged to one edge thereof, arm connections secured to the mattress-supporting frame, and hinged to the sofa-base, whereby the mattress-supportin g frame may be held either in a vertical position behind the sofa-back, or in a horizontal position thereover, substan tially as described.

14. In combination with asofa-base, a dropbottom, a rail forming part of the sofa-base and arranged to support the drop-bottom, a sofa back, hinge connections between the back and the bottom, and hinge connections between the back and the base, the hingearm of the hinge connection between the back and the base being connected to the back at a point above the hinge connection between the back and the bottom, whereby the inter- Vening part of the back constitutes a link connection between the two hinges, a second rail, forming another part of the sofa-frame,

it". I

and located behind the main part thereof to constitute a rest for the edge of a mattresssupporting frame, a mattress supporting frame, legs hinged to one edge thereof, hinged arms secured to the mattress supporting frame and engaging with the sofa base, whereby the mattress-supporting frame is adapted to swing from a vertical position behind the base to a horizontal position over it, end rails to the mattress-supporting frame, link connections between the end rails and the mattress-supporting frame, whereby the end rails may serve as a holding means to retain the bedding to the bed-bottom, substantially as described.

15. In combination With a sofa-base, sofa ends hinged thereto, and provided with vertical ribs, asofa-back also hinged to the base, and means for holding the sofa-back to the vertical ribs substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

, JOHN F. WILMOT. l/Vitnesses:

MAY E. KOTT, ELLIOTT J. STODDARD. 

